Target-gun



J. W. BRUTON. TARGET GUN.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 11, 1890.

lill! 'which are released simultaneously, so that l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IACKSON IV. BRUTON, OF GUTHRIE, MISSOURI.

TARGET-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,538, dated November 11, 1890.

Application filed August '7, 1889. y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACKSON IV. BRUTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Guthrie, in the county of Callaway and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target-Guns; and I do declare the following' to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speeiiieation.

This invention relates to target-guns in which the motive or propelling force may be elastic strands, rubber bands, springs, a bow, or compressed air, and in which the missile or projectile is held in a sling.

The object of the invention is to devise novel and efcient means for retaining the sling and the missile until released by pressing a trigger. The sling is held by two jaws,

the sling may not swerve from a direct line when starting.

' The improvements consist of the novel features which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and 4which are shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a top plan view, parts being taken away, of a target-gun embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the gun shown in Fig. l.v Fig. 3 is a modification of the grip mechanism. Fig. 4t is a modification showing the sling adjustably connected with the cross-arm. Fig. 5 is a further modiiication of the grip mechanism. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a grip-lever made from sheet-metal.

The cross-piece A on the end ot the barrel or stock Cof Fig. l is fastened to the stock by a pin or bolt a, which passes through the cross-bar and one of a series of openings a" in the barrel C, as indicated, and can be fastened near the end or to slide farther back nearer the grip. The object in having the cross-piece adjustable is to obtain the proper distance from the grip according to the strength and length of the rubber bands or cord. If the rubber bands are long, the slide Serial No. 320,623. (No model.)

I would be placed near the end. If the rubber bands are large and difficult to stretch back to the grip,the cross-piece can be moved nearer the grip, which would allow the rubber to stretch to the grip with more ease.

In each end of the cross-piece A is a slot a2, through which projects a pin I), made stationary by a thumb-screw d. The ends of the 6o rubber bands or cords E are attached to these pins D. The object in having the slots and movable pins is to adj ust the direction that is given the missile.

The manner of adjustingand tiring is as follows: Place the missile in the sling and pull it back and press the sling down between t-he jaws F and F of the grip. Take sight over the missile and between the jaws of the grip on a line with the sight cl2 on the barrel and 7o pull the trigger. It the direction ot' the missile is either to the right or io the left, the pins are moved in the slots correspondingly to the right or left until the missiles iired are made to go directly at the object aimed, or straight on the barrel.

Instead of a slotted cross-piece, a series of 'openings d may be provided in each end of the cross-piece,and the pins a, having the rubbers or cords attached, are adjustable in said 8o openings, the rubbers passing through staples d, which are provided opposite the openings CZ.

The gripping-jaws F and F' are formed on the outer end ot` the grip-levers G and G', re- 85 f spectively, which are pivoted between their ends to the plate IfI. The rear ends of the levers G and G are connected by the togglelevers f and j", which are connected at their inner ends by the pin t', projecting up from 9o the slide I, which by preference is placed on the under side of the plate to be out of the way. The front end h of slide I is reduced and Works through a guide 7L', depending from the plate Il, the retracting-spring 4i being 95 placed on this end h and a shoulder 72,2 on the slide. The trigger, composed of the vertica-l and horizontal arms j andy", respectively, has a cross-heady'2 at the upper end of arm j, which is iitted in a recess js in plate H, being 10o held in said recess between the plate and the barrel of the gun. The horizontal arm j has a catch, which enters a recess jt* in the slide, to hold the same back when the jaws F and sheet metal.

The pivotal connections between the parts may be of ordinary construction, but are preferably studs having lateral projections. The parts connected with the studs have openings to receive the studs and side openings to receive the projections of the studs.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the levers are pivoted between their ends, and the front ends of the levers are held together by the slide L,which has two vertical projections Z Z, one for each lever. The missile is placed in the sling and the latter is drawn back and forced down between the jaws of the levers, which are held from spreading by the slide -bar, and the trigger disengages the slide from the levers, which latter open and relieve the sling. In Figs. 1 and 2the slide N is acted on by the V-sprin'g O, and the trigger P is pivoted to the barrel and acted on by an inverted-V spring Q. This form is preferred because of its simplicity. The slide N is held horizontal when in motion by that part of said slide eX- tending into the slot in the plate. The stock of the gun has a mortise, in which works the trigger and slide, and springs that act on the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a target-gun, the combination, with the barrel having a grip, of a cross piece or frame adjustable on the barrel and the rubbers carrying the sling connected with said cross-piece, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the barrel havinga cross-piece and grip devices for the sling, of the rubbers adjustably connected with the ends of said cross-piece, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the barrel having a grip for the sling, of the cross-piece adjustable on the barrel and the sling having its rubbers adj ustably connected with the ends of the said cross-piece, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. In a target-gun, the combination, with the barrel and the sling having connection at its outer ends with the barrel, of two pivoted jaws for securing the inner end of the sling when the latter is distended, a slide for holding the jaws against spreading, and a trigger for releasing the slide, substantially as described.

In a target-gun, the combination, with the sling, of the two levers for gripping the sling, the toggle-levers connecting the slinggripping levers,l the slide connected with toggle-levers, and the trigger for engaging` with and releasing the slide, substantially as described.

6. In a target-gun, the combination, with the barrel,of the sling connected with the outer end of the barrel, the sling-gripping levers pivoted between their ends and having jaws at their front ends, which jaws are wide and flare rearwardly, the slide for holding the said levers against the tension of the sling, and the trigger, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. In a target-gun, the combination, with the sling, the slide, and the trigger, of a pair of levers pivoted between their en ds and having their fron-t ends bent up to form sling-gripping jaws, substantially as set forth.

8. The herein-described sling-grip for a target-gun, composed of a plate, the two levers having rearwardly-flaring jaws pivoted between their ends to the plate, the toggle-levers connecting the said levers, the slide connected with the toggle-levers and having its front end reduced and working through a guide on the under side of the plate, the spring on the reduced end of the slide, the trigger having a vertical and a horizotal arm, and the vertical arm having a cross-head which is fitted in a recess in the plate, snbstantiallyas described.

9. The herein-described sling-grip for a target-gun, composed of a plate, the two levers pivoted between their ends to the plate, the

toggle-levers connectinosaid levers the slide Cb b 7 connected with the toggle-levers, the pivotal connection between the parts connected by studs having lateral projections, the parts connected with the studs having openings to receive the studs, and side openings to receive the projections of the studs.

l0. The herein-described sling-grip for a target-gun, composed of a plate having a slot, the two levers pivoted between their ends to the plate, the toggle-levers connecting said levers, the slide connecting with the togglelevers, the slide moving horizontally with the slot in thev plate, the V-spring acting on the slide, the trigger pivoted to the barrel, and the inverted-V spring acting on the trigger, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAcKsoN w. BRUToN.

Witnesses:

A. A. PENN, J. F. SPANHURST.

IOC 

